Means for closing and opening electric circuits.



H. VOIGT. MEANS FOR-CLOSINGAND OPENING ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28. I913.

Patented Feb. 15,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET I- THE COLUMBIA PLAI luuuAPH cu., WASHINGTON, D. c.

H. VOIGT.

MEANS FOR CLOSING AND OPENING ELECTRIC cmcuns.

r, APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28,1913. 1,172,080. v Patented Feb. 15,1916. 1

V 1 1 a SHE ssssss EH 2. I

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Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.28, I913.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA C- UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN VOIGT, OFNONNENDAMM, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SIEMENS &HALSKE, A. G., OF BERLIN, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

M ANs For. CLOSING AND OPENING ELnc'rnIc CInCUI'rs,

Specification. of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Application filed'March 28, 1913. Serial No. 757,394.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it, known that I, HNRMANN VoI T, a citizen of the German Empire, andresiding at Nonnendamm, near Berlin, Germany, have invented certain newand useful Improvements inMeans for Closing and Opening ElectricCircuits, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to apparatus for antomatically operating devicesfor closing and opening electric circuits at predeterminable times, forexample, for operating devices for switching on and off electric bells,signaling lamps; or circuits adapted to carry out mechanical operationsof any desired kind at prearranged and regulatable times. In apparatusof this kind known heretofore the desired end is obtained by providing adisk or drum continuously driven by clockwork and having rows of holes,into which are inserted pins for influencing switching or connectingdevices, these pins corresponding in each case with desired times ofdisengagement. These known devices have, however, the disadvantage thatthey are very large, when a number of electriccircuits have to beinfluenced and when only very small intervals'oftime have to elapsebetweenthe consecutive operations of clos-.

ing such circuits. When, for example, it is desired to be able at anyspecified minute to close only one circuit, it is necessary to providein the disk or drum 1440. holes in a row. l/Vhen several circuitsare tobe Closed and the sequence and character of the signals are to bedifferent on different days, a correspondingly large number ofthe verylarge perforated disks must be employed. The large size of devices ofthis kind is a drawback in thatthe masses to be-moved by the clockworkare too great and consequently reliability in working cannot be dependedon. A

A primary object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus of thetype described to which these defects are not attached. To this end Iarrange that the circuit to be connected is led over two'groups ofonnecting members which are influenced by two automatically fed, rotaryswitching or change-over mechanisms. One of these change-overmechanismsis sodriven that it produces in ,a prearranged order within, forexample, one day, continually varying combinations in the positions ofthe connecting members of the group associated with it;

the other change-over mechanism comprises,

a drum fitted'with projecting pins or the the connecting membersv of thesecond, the

electric circuit is closed and the desired effect is therefore obtained.For setting out the pins onthe drum it is therefore necessary only totake into account the order of the continually changing positions of thefirst change-over mechanism, which may be called a combination switchingor changeover mechanism. The second changeover mechanism is preferablydriven each time the electric circuit is closed, a feed mechanism of anydesired suitable kind being then electroma'gnetically operated. Thecombination change-over mechanism on the other hand is preferably eithermechanically or electrically driven by clockwork. In order to be able toconnect up the various electric circuits at different intervals of time,c. g. on each day of a week, additional connecting devices may beprovidedwhich are suited to those divergences from the normal periods ofclosing the circuits which correspond with the different intervals oftime desired. Also, by providing additional connecting members itis-possible to arrange that various electric circuits are closed forcarrying out operations at various places. pared with known apparatus,my improved apparatus therefor not only has a much smaller pindrum, butalso permits almost unlimited freedom of action in delivering varioussignals orthe like at predetermined times and places.

,Several illustrative embodiments of my invention are represented by wayof example in the accompanying drawing showing preferred forms of myapparatus partly in perspective, partly in elevation, and partlydiagrammatically.

In these drawings: Figure. 1 illustrates one form of apparatus wherein apin-drum is comprised in the time change-over de vice; Fig. 2illustrates amodified form of As'comapparatus comprising a retardingdevice,-

and Fig. 3 illustrates another form of apparatus wherein a perforatedband is comprised in the time change-over device.

Referring to Fig. 1, the adjustable switching or change-over mechanismcomprises a drum 1 having in its periphery a large number of rows ofholes, wherein pins 2, 361, 28 can be inserted as desired. Above theserows of holes or pins are arranged three groups of levers. The firstgroup consists of four levers 3 able to rock about an axle l, each oftheir free ends being movable between two contactbridges 5, 6. At theother side of these contact-bridges there are arranged, rotatable abouta second axle 8, four additional levers 7 which on the one hand can alsomove between the bridges 5, 6 and on the other hand bear on four notcheddisks 9 mounted insulated on an axle 10. This axle is continuouslydriven by a synchronously controlled, auxiliary clock mechanism 11which, like an auxiliary clock 12, is connected to an electrictime-service system. The four disks each have eight notches which,however, are arranged in each disk to come into action in a diiferentorder, so that to each angular position of the axle 10 and the disks 9there corresponds a different position of the four levers 7. I arrangethat the axle 10 rotates one revolution per day. The circuit of abattery 13 comprises all the levers 7 and 3 able to be connected inseries by means of the bridges 5, 6. In this circuit is also connectedan electromagnet 14:, whose armature 15 is under the influence of apowerful spring 16 and actuates by means of a pawl 17 a ratchet wheel 18connected with the drum 1.

Assuming, firstly, for the sake of an explanation of the mode ofoperation of the system of levers 3 and 7, that the battery circuitcomprises a connection 19 shown in dotted lines, which could be formed6. g. by a switch, this circuit would be closed as soon as the positionof the levers 7 at the combination change-over mechanism 7, 9 relativeto the contact-bridges 5, 6 is the same as that of the levers 3 relativethereto in consequence of the disposition of the pins 2 on the drum 1.Let it be assumed for instance that by means of the holes 2 on the drum1 the levers 3 be brought in contact with the upper bridges 5 and 6. Theuppermost of the levers 3 is in contact with the connecting bridge 5,the second lever from the top with the connecting bridge 6, also thefollowing lever with the connecting bridge 6 and the undermost leverwith bridge 5 In order now to enable a circuit to be closed for themagnet 14 the levers 7 must be brought into a position corresponding tothat of the levers 3 by means of the notched disks 9. The followingcircuit will thus be established: battery 13, conductor 41, uppermostlever 7, bridge 5, uppermost lever 3, connection to the second lever 3,lower bridge 6, second lever 7, connection to the third lever 7, lowerbridge 6, third lever 3, connection to undermost lever 3, upper bridge5, undermost lever 7, conductor 1-1, short-circuit conductor 19,conductor 20, electro-magnet 1% and back to battery 13. The magnet 14will then be energized, attract its armature and, consequently move thepawl 17 one tooth. The bell indicated by dotted lines at couldsimultaneously be sounded. As soon as the position of the lever 7 ischanged owing to the disks 9 being rotated further, the circuit isbroken and the pin-drum 1 rotated one unit by means of the tensionedspring 16 and the feed-mechanism 17, 18, whereby the switchlevers 3 arebrought by pins arranged in a different manner into a positioncorresponding to the next time for closing the circuit. The drum thenremains in this position until. the combination switching mechanism 9has brought its switch-levers 7 into the corresponding position,whereupon the circuit is again closed and a similar cycle of operationstakes place as before.

Secondly, it will now be assumed that owing to the circuit of thebattery 13 being closed, not one single bell 15 only, but severalthereof are to be rung at various places and that the times when suchringing occurs shall be different on different days of the week. Forthis purpose the one battery line 20 is led by way of cuttingoutswitches 24 to a number of bells 21, 22, which are assumed to be fixedat various places. From there the current passes by means of the lines25 associated with the various bells to several levers 27 which aremounted to rock about an axle 26 and are so influenced at one end bypins, also arranged on the drum 1, that when these levers are rockedover they come into contact with a common contact-bar 29 and thus closeat this place the circuit of one or more bells. The contact-bar 29 isconnected by a lead 30 with a second similar bar 31, over which sevenlevers are mounted to rock about an axle 33 in a manner exactly similarto that described with reference to the levers 27; they contact with thelever 31 when they are rocked by a third group of pins on the drum 1.Each of these levers 32 represents a predetermined day of the week, andin order that it alone may be actuated for the particular day, aconnection is made by means of leads 35 between each of these levers 32and brushes 36 which slide on a disk 37 of insulation containing at oneplace a contact-piece 38. This disk 37 acts as a daily commutatingdevice and is likewise driven by the time-service system, eithercontinuously or intermittently, by means of synchronized mechanism 39,in such manswitch-levers3 and 7 in succession tothe battery. In oneposition of the levers 3 and 7 it will be seen that in this illustrativeembodiment the complete circuit of the switching apparatus is as followsfrom "one pole of the battery 13, over the drum actuating magnet 14, thelead 20., the bells 23 and 22, the corresponding levers 27, contact-bar29, lead 30, bar31, 'first lever 32, lead 35, brush 36, contact-piece38, brush 40, lead 41, the levers 7, bridges 5 and levers 3, lead 41,and back to the other poleof the battery 13.' When this circuit isbroken,

. the drum 1 is rotated by means of the pawlmechanismpreviously heldtensioned by the magnet 14, whereby all the three groups of levers 3,32, 27'are given positions preparatory to the next circuit-closingoperation, this being brought about as soon as the com binationchangeover mechanism gives that position to the switch-levers 7 whichcorresponds with that of the levers 3. The day levers 32 and thelocal-circuit levers 27 may be arranged in a modified manner. Namely,they may normally contact with the bars 29, '31 and be raised therefromonly by the action of thepins34, 28, respectively, when one of thecircuit-closing operations as prearranged by the drum 1 and the pins 2is not to take placeon a predetermined day or at predetermined place. Inevery case it is necessaryto takeinto' account at the drum 1 and the pin2 all the connecting operations necessaryin' the course of the week, andto prevent these occurring by opening the circuit in one day or theother by means of the other levers 32, 27.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the adjustment of theconnecting members is maintained, as mentioned above, until the notcheddisks 9 again rock the levers 7, whereupon the pin-drum '1 is driven.

Fig. 2 illustrates .a modified apparatus, wherein, when the currentimpulse is given, the magnet 14 by attracting its armature, 15 drivesthe pin-drum 1 by means of the pawl 17. Since nowhowever, at the momentof the current impulse, the adjustment of the levers 3 is also changedby the pin-drum 1, the signal of the bell 45, which was actuatedsimultaneously with the magnet 14, would also immediately cease. Inorder therefore that the signal or other operation started by theclosure of the circuit shall be maintained for a desired length of time,the fol lowing retarding device is employed: In series with the magnet14 are two additional magnets'46, 47. The first of these. when energizedcloses by means of its armature 48 a circuit 70, which bridges over thecon- .one roll 56 and onto a second roll 56.

tact-bridges 5, '6 and the groups of levers 3, 7, and would accordinglycontinually maintain a circuit once formed at the said bridges. In orderto be able to open the bridging circuit after a desired predeterminedtime, a contact device 49 is interpolated, this being influenced by thehooklike armature 50 of the magnet 47. When attracted this armaturedrives" an escapement 52 by means of a wheel-train 51, which escapementcan be adjusted-by regulating the weighted lever 52, and accordinglypermits the armature 50 to be completely attracted only after a longeror a shorter period of time, whereby the hook of the armature finallyopens the contact 49, and consequently breaks the circuit of thebridging winding.

For the sake of simplicity Fig. 2 does not show the additional devicesfor making pro-' vision, when signaling, both for the various days ofthe week and for the different places in which the signals are desiredto be operated. Such devices would here exactly correspond with thoseshown in Fig. 1. Under some circumstances the retarding device is ofcourse advantageous in systems of the kind'represented in Fig. 1wherein, when the armature is attracted,.the pawl moves idly.

By increasing the number of levers in all or in some of the abovementioned three [allow the connecting-levers to be successivelyinfluenced in a manner similar to that describedabove with reference tothe rows of pins on the .drum. Fig. 3 illustrates by way of example oneform of apparatus of this kind. Referring to this figure, the

vers 7, whose free ends come alternately into contact with the upper andlower contactpieces 5 or 6.; The levers3 however no longer influence thecontact-pieces 5, 6, but

close the circuit over a special row of conmounted in a guide 55 overwhich passes a perforated band 57, which is wound on" from V 4 Theendless band 57 is driven by a drum 58 pronotched disks 9 here alsoinfluence the levided at both ends with sprockets 58 which engage incorresponding perforations in the band; Each of the resilient pointers 8mounted in a bar 59, carries at its free end two contact-pins 60, 61,which are respectively located above the contact-pins 53, 5 1 of theguide 55, whereby as soon as a hole in the perforated band arrives atone of these places the corresponding contact-pins 60, 61 and 53, 5stouch one another. The perforations are so arranged that either thecontact-pin 61 and the contact-pin 5 1, or the contact-pin 60 and thecontact-pin 53, touch one another, so as to provide the combination ofclosed contacts to which the combination of the levers 7 willcorrespond. The guide 55 which, together with a portion of theperforated band, is shown in the figure broken away in order torepresent clearly the manner of fastening the contact-pins 53, carriesin addition a contact-bar 62 which, owing to additional rows of holes inthe perforated band 57, can come into contact with resilient pointers27, likewise mounted in the bar 59. The contact-bar 62 thus closes thecircuit of the battery 13 over the contact-pieces 5 or 6, thecontact-pins 53 or 54., the lead 30 and one or more of the bells 21, 22,23 arranged at different places. The arrangement of the levers 27therefore exactly corresponds with the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 forselecting a signaling clevice at a predetermined place. Since whenemploying a perforated band it is not necessary to arrange adjustingdevices for the signals on the surface of a drum, but it is possible onthe other hand to successively represent on a band of any desired lengththe various combinations by means of perforated symbols, it is notnecessary in an arrangement of the kind just described to use thosecontacting devices for the various days of a week which are shown inFig. 1. Such devices are now replaced by arranging the signals afreshfor each successive day on the perforated band. The perforated band hasmoreover the advantage that the number of signals to be given or ofother operations to be carried out within a predetermined period of timeis not limited as with the pindrum, in which the holes in its peripheryfor receiving the pins limit the number of operations which can becarried out in a given time.

All the devices illustrated and described are only diagrammaticallyrepresented and can be modified, both with regard to their arrangementand to the form of the various parts in order to suit desired purposesof employment, without in any way departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim 1. In means for automatically controlling electric circuits atpredetermined times, the combination of two groups of an equalnumlei-e98 ber of connecting members each displaceable into differentpositions, a tune changeover device and a combination change-overmechanism each adapted to displace the members of one of said groupsfrom one position into another, automatic means for driving said timechange-over device, automatic means for driving said combinationchange-over mechanism, and means constituting portions of the electriccircuit to be controlled for connecting all of said connecting membersin series when the members of both said groups are in correspond ingpositions.

2. In means for automatically controlling electric circuits atpredetermined times, the combination of two groups of an equal number ofconnecting members each displaceable into different positions, a timechangeover device and a combination change-over mechanism each adaptedto displace the members of one of said groups from one position intoanother, automatic means comprising an elcctromagnet in the circuit tobe controlled for driving said time change-over device, automatic meanscomprising clockwork for driving said combination changeover mechanism,and means constituting portions of the electric circuit to be controlledfor connecting all of said connecting members in series and with saidelectromagmet when the memliiers of both said groups are incorresponding positions.

3. In means for automatically controlling electric circuits atpredetermined. times, the combination of two groups of an equal numberof connecting members each displaceable into different positions, a timechange-over device and a combination change-over mechanism each adaptedto displace the members of one of said groups from one position intoanother, automatic means comprising an electromagnet in the circuit tobe controlled for driving said time change-over device, automaticelectric means comprising clockwork for driving said combination changeover mechanism, and means constituting portions of the electriccircuitto be controlled for connecting all of said connecting members inseries and with said electroma net when the members of both said groupsare in corresponding positions.

4. In means for automatically controlling electric circuits atpredetermined times, the combination of two groups of an equal number ofconnecting members, and a third group of connecting memberscorresponding in number to the units of a predetermined cycle of time,said members being each displaceable into two positions, a timechangeover device adapted to displace the members of one of said twogroups and of the third group, automatic means for driving said timechange-over device, a combination change-over mechanism adapted todisplace the members of the remaining group, automatic means for drivingsaid combination change-over mechanism, means for connecting all themembers of said two groups in series when the same have correspondingpositions, and means for connecting in series with the. latter means themembers of said third group, the two latter means constitutingportionsof the electric circuit to be controlled. V 7

5. In means for automatically controlling electric circuits atpredetermined times, the combination of two groups of an equal number ofconnecting members, and a third group of connecting memberscorresponding in number to the units of a predetermined cycle of time,said members being each displaceable into two positions, a timechangeover device adapted to displace the members of one of said twogroups and of the third group, automatic means for driving said timechange-over device, a combination change-over mechanism adapted todisplace the members of the remaining group, automatic means for drivingsaid combination change-over mechanism, a commutator common to all ofthe connecting membersrof said third group, means for uniformlyrotatingsaid commutator once during each cycle of time, means for connecting allthe members of said two groups in series when the same havecorresponding positions, and means for connecting in series with thelatter means the members of said third group, and said commutator, thetwo latter means constituting portions of the electric circuit to becontrolled.

6. In means for automatically controlling electric circuits atpredetermined times, the combination of two groups of an equal number ofconnecting members, and a third group of connecting memberscorresponding in number to the electric circuits to be controlled, saidmembers being each displacev able into different positions, a timechangeover device adapted to displace the members of one of said twogroups and of the third group, automatic means for driving said timechange-over device, a combination change-over mechanism adapted todisplace the members of the remaining group, automatic means for drivingsaid combination change-over mechanism, means for connecting all themembers of said two groups in series when the same have correspondingpositions, and means for connecting in series with the latter means themembers of said third group, the two latter means constituting portionsof the electric circuit to be controlled.

7 In means for automatically controlling electric circuitsatpredetermined times, the combination. of two groups of an equal numberof connecting members, a third group of connecting members correspondingin groups and of the third and fourth groups,

automatic means for driving said time change-over device, a combinationchange over mechanism adapted to displace the members of the remaininggroup, automatic means for driving said combination changeovermechanism, means for connecting all a the members of said two groups inseries when the same have corresponding positions, and means forconnecting in series with the latter means the members of said third andfourth groups, the two latter means constituting portions of theelectric circuit to be controlled.

8. In means for automatically controlling electric circuits atpredetermined times, the combination of two groups of an equal number ofconnecting members each displaceablej into two positions, a timechange-over device comprising a drum having eXchangeable pins therein, acombination changeover mechanism, said device and said mechanism beingeach adapted to displace the members of one of said groups from oneposition into the other, automatic means for driving said timechange-over device, automatic means for driving said combinationchange-over mechanism, and means consti tuting portions of the electriccircuit to be controlled for connecting all of said connecting membersin series when the members of both said groups are in correspondingpositions.

9. In means for automatically controlling electric circuits atpredetermined times, the combination of two groups of an equal number ofconnecting members, a third group of connecting members corresponding innumber to the units of a predetermined cycle of time, and a fourth groupof connecting members corresponding in number to the electric circuitsto be controlled, said members being each displaceable into differentpositions, a time changeover device adapted to displace the members ofone of said two groups and of the third and fourth groups, said timechange-over device comprising a drum having exchangeable pins therein,automatic means for driving said time change-over device, a combinationchange-over mechanism adapted to displace the members of the remaininggroup automatic means for driving said combination change-overmechanism, means for connecting all the members of said two groups inseries when the same have corresponding positions, and, means forconnecting in series with the latter means the members of said third andfourth groups, the two latter means constituting portions of theelectric circuit to be controlled.-

10. In means for automatically controlling electric circuits atpredetermined times, the combination of tWo groups of an equal number ofconnecting members each displaceable into different positions, a timechange-over device and a combination change over mechanism each adaptedto displace the members'of one of said groups from one position intoanother, automatic means for driving said time change-over device,automatic means for driving said combination change-over mechanism, andconnecting means constituting portions of the electric circuit to becontrolled for connecting all of said connecting members in series Whenthe members of both said groups are in corresponding positions; andretarding means associated With the electric circuit and adapted tomaintain closed for a predetermined time the circuit closed by saidconnecting means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two Witnesses.

HERMANN VOIGT.

VitnesseS VOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY :HASPER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

